How to Keep Ice Fishing Spikes Alive?
In nature, drone flies are common visitors to flowers, especially in late summer and autumn, and can be significant pollinators. Btw I prefer waxies in most situations but will use spikes when they are working I find spikes easier to work with they stay on the hook better and they seem to work longer. I have not had a lot of luck with mousies but also havent given them much of a chance. Sorry to ramble but if I could only bring one of those mentioned waxies for sure they just work better usually in my opinion anyways.
Because of their tiny size, spikes are best for catching fish with smaller mouths, like perch and sunfish. Top off a small jig like a No. 2 Swedish Pimple with a spike or two and you’ve got a lethal panfish combo. Aptly named because they feed on beeswax, waxworms are the larvae of the bee moth and are good natural baits to use when ice fishing for bluegill, crappie or sunfish. When storing waxworms, it’s best to use a small container filled with sawdust and keep them in the refrigerator. You can ice fish with waxworms using a number 6 bait holder hook under a float or you can use them to tip small teardrop or tube jigs. The waxworms will become soft and start to fall off of your hook after a few drops, so change your bait often.
I prefer to let the spikes sit in a warm environment until they hatch then use the fly… Ive only ever used spikes but maybe ill try waxies sometime. N.A.S. Inc. was founded in 1981 and was one of the first retail ecommerce website specializing in live bait directly to the consumer. We specialize in Canadian Nightcrawlers, Butterworms and preserved Emerald Shiners. Keep your bait in a sealed container to avoid drying out in direct sunlight.
Never touch the larvae; they will feel slimy because of the oils they secrete which act as their natural bug repellent. They’re pretty much predators, and when they fully mature into adult blowflies, they’ll eat almost anything. They’re short-lived because they don’t have a self-feeding endo-organism that they feed on as many other insect larvae do. The spike thrives on dead flesh which is why it’s important to keep your bait alive until you are done using them. Usually for a single hook lure I’ll use a waxie and get it kicking.
These wax-moth caterpillars, like butterworms, are also sold as pet food. Waxworms have a soft body and are larger than spikes and mousies. They’re considered an all-around favorite, as they catch everything from crappies to trout when dressed on a Swedish Pimple or Kastmaster. But they also catch pickerel and walleyes when hooked on a Rapala Jigging Rap.
Place a few cocoons into your pet spider cage and watch the final life cycle of a maggot. If you have a pet spider and are looking for spider food, we can help. This spider food is loaded with nutrients to help keep your pet spider healthy. You’ll want to keep your spikes at around 33-40° F for maximum shelf life. Since most refrigerators are usually kept around 40° F, we recommend you store your spikes in the coldest place in your refrigerator.
If there is a river nearby, make sure that your bait is iced over both sides. I love them all they taste so good warmed up over the heater when I’ve been out for 8hrs. An expert fisher should know how to keep his bait fresh and ready for anything. This doesn’t mean that you have to be an expert fisherman yourself; this article is written with beginners in mind.
Slightly larger than spikes, mousies secrete a white liquid when pierced that bigger perch and crappies can’t resist. Thread three or four of them onto a No. 2 Swedish Pimple, and jig it throughout the water column until you get a bead on the fish’s holding depth. Spikes are the pale larvae of the bluebottle fly and closely resemble what you might find hanging out in your garbage can. Due to their tiny size, spikes are best for catching smaller fish with smaller mouths, like perch and sunfish. Top off a Marmooska or Caty Jig with a spike or two, and you’ve got a lethal panfish combo. Sign-up to receive our monthly newsletter with interesting blogs about fishing and boating.
It’s disgusting to discover live maggots crawling and wiggling around in the trash, and once discovered we take quick steps to eliminate them. These maggots are those of the common housefly and are similar to the ones called spikes that are familiar to ice fishermen. Spikes are the larva of blowflies, which are also known as blue bottle, green bottle or cluster flies. Spikes are about a half inch long and are white with two tiny black eyes. After about a week of eating, spikes will turn into a brown cocoon, but fishermen slow down this change by keeping them in the refrigerator.
Dion Liriano is a 51-year-old American zookeeper who has retired from the business. He was once a highly successful director of the Zoo and Aquarium, but he has since hung up his gloves and moved on to other ventures. Dion's passion for animals began at a young age, when he would help his father care for their family pets. This love grew exponentially when he started working at the zoo; Dion quickly became one of the most experienced keepers in the business. He credits his success to the relationships he built with both staff and animals over the years.